BARC Animal Shelter is now overflowing with more than 500 animals and is urgently seeking adoptive homes. The facility has been forced to utilize temporary pop-up crates to manage the influx, leaving them at full capacity. "Wednesdays are always a high intake day for us because our enforcement team shifts overlap this day, so we had 94 total animal intakes yesterday," BARC Director of Communications Cory Stottlemyer explained, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. "Outcomes have been great the past few days, but yesterday’s intakes were still higher than outcomes."

To swiftly find these pets a home, BARC is waiving adoption fees through May 15th, a decision supported by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. According to the Foundation's website, they are dedicated to ending pet homelessness and have stepped in to assist during this crisis. In an announcement made on their Facebook page and noted by the Houston Chronicle, BARC stressed, "We cannot stress this enough: BARC needs your help, and we need it now more than ever."

The situation became critical after power outages affected one of BARC’s major rescue partners, as barriers presented by the torrential rain kept potential adopters from visiting the center. Severe weather's aftermath left BARC grappling to not just maintain their sanctuary but to ensure each animal found shelter beyond their care, as BARC Deputy Director Cory Stottlemyer was quoted in an interview with KTRK.

Those considering to open their homes to pets are encouraged to visit BARC for adoptions. The center, located at 3300 Carr St, in Houston, has posted an updated list of urgent pets on their website. For further details, the center's contact is open at 832-395-9084 or via email at [email protected]. The shelter has also expanded its operating hours to accommodate more visitors, opening Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., as per a schedule provided by KTRK. The shelter is closed on Mondays.